Grow light for seed starting?
July 31, 2022 1:29 PM Subscribe
I've got a moderately sunny yard but a fairly dark house - I'm looking for experienced recommendations for grow lights (+ any additional paraphernalia you've found essential - e.g. heat mats) for seed starting. Bonus points for affordability and durability.
I use the same lights for starting as I use for microgreens, cheap Barrina T5s ziptied to the underside of a wire shelf.
Heat mats will depend on your indoor temps - note that the lights do kick off some heat - but I do think they're worth buying from a reputable US source because you want them to have gone through full engineering cycles and quality control, which the cheap ones don't get.
In a couple of years when I start gardening again, I will likely use Epic Gardening's reusable starting system.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:51 PM on July 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
Heat mats will depend on your indoor temps - note that the lights do kick off some heat - but I do think they're worth buying from a reputable US source because you want them to have gone through full engineering cycles and quality control, which the cheap ones don't get.
In a couple of years when I start gardening again, I will likely use Epic Gardening's reusable starting system.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:51 PM on July 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
How much area are you looking to cover (or how many 10" x 20" trays)?
I used to have standard T5 fluorescent grow lights, but recently upgraded to LED, which is significantly better. I bought Kingbrite LEDs on Alibaba as they are fairly well known. They ship directly and sell single units.
I like Permanest trays even though they are quite expensive (the cheaper black plastic ones break too easily) and deep 3.5" and 5" square pots to transplant starts into in order to maximize the use of space under the lights. You definitely also want a timer to turn the lights on and off. I don't think you need a heat mat unless you're working in a very cold environment.
posted by ssg at 1:53 PM on July 31, 2022
I used to have standard T5 fluorescent grow lights, but recently upgraded to LED, which is significantly better. I bought Kingbrite LEDs on Alibaba as they are fairly well known. They ship directly and sell single units.
I like Permanest trays even though they are quite expensive (the cheaper black plastic ones break too easily) and deep 3.5" and 5" square pots to transplant starts into in order to maximize the use of space under the lights. You definitely also want a timer to turn the lights on and off. I don't think you need a heat mat unless you're working in a very cold environment.
posted by ssg at 1:53 PM on July 31, 2022
A lot of this depends on your space, and how much you want to start.
I’ve purchased a few, and can’t really stand the magenta/blue/red color that most lights tend towards. This guy is a favorite of mine, and is fairly cheap. I actually have several at this point, and hang them from the underside of each shelf of one of these (not an endorsement; these are everywhere and I found one for free on the side of the road). They do generate some heat, so this typically warms up the trays above them to no problems or need for grow mats. Each shelf holds a standard seed tray (36 plugs I think?).
It works very well in a darker corner of our garage; by the time the starts are large enough we have an outdoor greenhouse we move them to, then out to the garden.
posted by furnace.heart at 2:32 PM on July 31, 2022
I’ve purchased a few, and can’t really stand the magenta/blue/red color that most lights tend towards. This guy is a favorite of mine, and is fairly cheap. I actually have several at this point, and hang them from the underside of each shelf of one of these (not an endorsement; these are everywhere and I found one for free on the side of the road). They do generate some heat, so this typically warms up the trays above them to no problems or need for grow mats. Each shelf holds a standard seed tray (36 plugs I think?).
It works very well in a darker corner of our garage; by the time the starts are large enough we have an outdoor greenhouse we move them to, then out to the garden.
posted by furnace.heart at 2:32 PM on July 31, 2022
I start seeds in seedling trays under domes to conserve humidity and use a simple T5 fluorescent or you can find LEDs labeled as "T5 equivalent." Very low power draw. Sufficiently bright. I have no problems with this for any of my many garden plants. Seedlings don't need super powerful lights.
posted by spitbull at 5:45 PM on July 31, 2022
posted by spitbull at 5:45 PM on July 31, 2022
T5s are full spectrum grow bulbs and generate almost no heat
posted by spitbull at 5:50 PM on July 31, 2022
posted by spitbull at 5:50 PM on July 31, 2022
Another vote for a T5 bulb. I use a jump start brand stand to hold the light above the houseplants I bring in during winter. The T5 is bright enough that I can put the seeds in between the other plants and still have them germinate and grow properly
posted by ockmockbock at 8:33 PM on July 31, 2022
posted by ockmockbock at 8:33 PM on July 31, 2022
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